Libby and Ziva Temperament Test

On May 12th the Iroquois German Shepherd Dog Club of Syracuse NY held a temperament certification during their show. The testing measures different aspects of temperament such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness as well as the dog’s instinct for protectiveness towards its handler and/or self-preservation in the face of a threat.

Libby and Ziva all passed with flying colors, earning their GSDCA Temperament Certificate (TC). The evaluator was impressed by both dogs ability to recover and stay clear headed.

Below are the elements of the testing.

Failure on any part of the test is recognized when a dog shows:

Unprovoked aggression

Panic without recovery

Strong avoidance

Elements of the test include reactions to;

Neutral Stranger:

Friendly Stranger

Hidden Noise

Gun Shots

Umbrella Test

Footing Test:

Self-protective/Aggressive Reaction – 3 parts

Subtest Part 1: Non-Threatening – The purpose of this subtest is to test the dog’s alertness to an unusual situation.

Subtest Part 2: Threatening – The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog’s ability to recognize when an unusual situation turns into a provocation.

Subtest Part 3: Aggression – The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog’s protective instincts.